Regarding SS in the 3xx range:
I really can't see many reasons to use 316/317 any more, except if/when SS 304 is difficult to obtain. Which it definitely isn't at least in the US, UK and Germany.
Compared to 304: lower TCR, lower overall sensitivity/accuracy, identical handling, same max operating temperature (925°C), higher nickel content (11 - 15% 317; 10-14% 316/L ; 8-12% 304)
The only benefit I can see is slightly higher resistance - for example, 0.40/26G @ 8 x 3mm wraps =
But that doesn't help with accuracy, because it's more than offset by the lower TCRs. So it only helps if you want a higher resistance in and of itself, like @xpen did for his cross-mod builds that include mechs. And anyway the difference between 304 and 316L is tiny, and 316 not much. It's only 317L which is a more noticeable % difference.
I don't know. There are all sorts of minor differences listed on the data sheets - corrosion resistance, different properties under different conditions. I don't know what they all mean, I can only judge from personal experience that it coils the same and gives the same vape.
Before I'd ever tried SS I read a thread here from someone who was trying it as an alternative to Kanthal, non-TC. He thought he got taste differences between 304 and 316, if I remember correctly.
If he did then that's not anything that would apply to me, my taste experience is nowhere near sensitive enough for that. But I suppose it's something that others might need to verify for themselves. I'd be surprised, though - it's not like they are so different as to have any obviously different characteristics that would affect taste. Quite possibly he just didn't compare like-for-like.
Anyway, I'd never discourage anyone from trying it to see what it's like - especially for cheap SS. But on paper, and based on my own experiences of 317 vs 304, I expect I will be sticking with 304 out of the 3XX range of SS.
And possibly even once I've tried 430, if I find its improved accuracy is not important enough to give up the usability benefits of 304 vs 4340.
I really can't see many reasons to use 316/317 any more, except if/when SS 304 is difficult to obtain. Which it definitely isn't at least in the US, UK and Germany.
Compared to 304: lower TCR, lower overall sensitivity/accuracy, identical handling, same max operating temperature (925°C), higher nickel content (11 - 15% 317; 10-14% 316/L ; 8-12% 304)
The only benefit I can see is slightly higher resistance - for example, 0.40/26G @ 8 x 3mm wraps =
- 304: 0.499Ω
- 316: 0.540Ω
- 316L: 0.525Ω
- 317L: 0.567Ω
But that doesn't help with accuracy, because it's more than offset by the lower TCRs. So it only helps if you want a higher resistance in and of itself, like @xpen did for his cross-mod builds that include mechs. And anyway the difference between 304 and 316L is tiny, and 316 not much. It's only 317L which is a more noticeable % difference.
I don't know. There are all sorts of minor differences listed on the data sheets - corrosion resistance, different properties under different conditions. I don't know what they all mean, I can only judge from personal experience that it coils the same and gives the same vape.
Before I'd ever tried SS I read a thread here from someone who was trying it as an alternative to Kanthal, non-TC. He thought he got taste differences between 304 and 316, if I remember correctly.
If he did then that's not anything that would apply to me, my taste experience is nowhere near sensitive enough for that. But I suppose it's something that others might need to verify for themselves. I'd be surprised, though - it's not like they are so different as to have any obviously different characteristics that would affect taste. Quite possibly he just didn't compare like-for-like.
Anyway, I'd never discourage anyone from trying it to see what it's like - especially for cheap SS. But on paper, and based on my own experiences of 317 vs 304, I expect I will be sticking with 304 out of the 3XX range of SS.
And possibly even once I've tried 430, if I find its improved accuracy is not important enough to give up the usability benefits of 304 vs 4340.
